Can somebody tell me their experience with AFib caused by genetic/familial reason? There is a chance my mother has it for almost 10 years.
So, I'm wondering does it change anything overall with my AFib. Is it more severe, is it harder to minimize the condition with lifestyle changes if its hereditary and does it affect ablation success in any way? Or it doesn't change any of those things?
In my view AF is such a mongrel condition there is no sensible answer to that question. The genetics may make a person more likely to get AF but since any and all treatment is only for quality of life, that becomes purely personal.
As far as I am aware there is no formal identification of Familial AF although there have been several genes identified connected to AF. Even if gene are identified it’s not inevitable and all research shows that Lifestyle is by far the most important factor. Having said that, changing your lifestyle once you HAVE AF may lessen the AF burden but it’s a bit like shutting the door to the stable after the horse has bolted. In my view by far the most important factor is the toxicity of stress hormones on the body so manage stress, do things you enjoy as pleasure releases endorphins which is by fart the best therapy. In other words not worth worrying as it is only going to damage your health.
AF does run in families for sure, my father had AF, my sister now has AF but in my father’s case it didn’t bother him, apart from having ‘palpitations’ and he had far more life changing conditions to worry about. My sister’s was triggered by COVID infection. I’ve had it for about 18 years now and believe that AF is just something we learn to live with although we need to adapt and Lifestyle changes help, ablations help some, mini-maze others and a few seem to do OK with meds although I am not one of them.
As Bob says no sensible answer to that question and in my view, AF is more of a symptom of dysfunction from numerous sources, not a disease in itself - just my opinion.
What specifically are the "dysfunctions" you mention?
What specifically are the "dysfunctions" you mention?
Hi there🙋♂️My older brother had problems with heart arrhythmias. I see a connection there. We both were active long distance cyclists ( not professional but rather fanatical 😏). That could have also been a factor. Living in different countries in later life I saw him only once or twice a year when he was ill. Like me he had a pacemaker fitted, but I have only 1 lead, he had 2. My PM works fine (even getting a shock from a socket in the kitchen didn't affect it 😧 - yes I had it checked afterwards). He had many problems with his PM not working properly. He went on to develop heart failure, had a stroke and died a year later, during the pandemic, so I saw nothing of him at the end. It is difficult to get information from his wife, it upsets her to talk about it. I have another brother and sister, both older, who haven't shown signs of heart problems. The brother was as active as us. He has a slow resting heartbeat, but no irregularities. Our mother died in 1994, after 2 strokes. Is that connected? Who knows?
I just know that I have to get on with my life in the best way that I can. As we spoke before about trying to understand why we are where we are; the "why me?" questions and the grieving about what we've lost in life. Certainly not easy to cope with, they come back time and again, but I try to push them away as unhelpful. Sorry, that's not what this post was about, but one thing leads to another. Interested to read the replies to this useful question.
Have a good day.
CM
Sorry to hear about your brother and hope you still enjoy some gentle cycling with his memory.
I don't think anyone will know the answers to your questions.
I have AF (Paroxysmal) and so does my mother. Neither my brother nor my sister has it but they have higher lifestyle risk factors than me. I've been the fittest and healthiest of the lot but still got AF. However, I'm a worrier, like my mother - and I suspect it's a major factor (IMO).
I believe my prognosis has a lot more to do with how I choose to deal with AF (lifestyle changes and treatment choices) than whether it is familial or not.
Hi,
My views are a bit like those of others ...... nothing definate.
My paternal Grandfather died following a series of strokes over a period of time ... back in 1964. Nobody alive now has any recall of the cause of these strokes. I've had an AF diagnosis. My 2nd cousin (paternal side) has also had an AF diagnosis and finally closer to the current era, my daughter slipped into AF during both her pregnancies. When she stopped breeding she had no further AF. She is now like a stick insect and practicesThai Kick Boxing.
So, nothing scientific to support the genetics theory only anecdotal evidence.
My father had it (lived till 81 yo), my mother had it (lived till 78 yo), I have it (since the age of about 55), my son has it (he is 41 yo). Sooo, it is only a coincidence, lol!
Mother had it, cardiologist said doesn't necessarily run in families but likely that other familial comorbidities that cause AF could make it appear so
Thank you guys for the replies!
I have it since a severe chest infection 15 years ago broke 3 ribs with coughing now my son has it after being hospitalised with a severe chest infection, however he's a stresshead and a worries about stuff, like me !
My mother had AF, it wasn't discovered until she was dying - don't remember her ever seeing a GP until she had stomach pain and was diagnosed with terminal cancer aged 60. My sister, brother and also a cousin have it. My dad died aged 88 from a stroke, I found out afterwards that he'd been taking a low dose aspirin, he would never have told us why. I'm sure there must be a family link.
Jean
My mother had it and didn't realise until she had a stoke in her late 80's. Father was not around but apparently he had a pacemaker in early 80"s. I first noticed it as a teen after going for a run. Niece and my son have had a couple episodes. Has to be genetic to some degree surely. Also everybody seems to have different events and cures. Good luck in the future. It ain't easy but just have to modify lifestyle and seek your best personal outcome.
PS - Prevalance of AF amongst population rises as we age - about 7% of the population at 65 rising to about 28% by 85.
My Sister had her first Afib incident just before I had it. She is seven years younger than me, but had a lot more emotional stress than I did. My father got it in his nineties, but died of something else before it could become a problem. My brother died of some sort of heart condition at 50, also during a time of great emotional stress. My information was spotty but it was supposed to be an "electrical" problem of some sort. So yeah it looks like genetics is a factor, but stress makes it more likely, at least from my experience.
There are certain genes involved (you will find a list on the Internet). I am one of a family of 5 girls, we all have it despite living in different parts of the world and different lifestyles and having 19 years between the eldest and youngest. My father had it and I know of at least one cousin (my father's brother's son has it). My son had it, but he was an extreme athlete,but who knows it may revisit him in his later years. So in my opinion it is very real
One or two of my family have have it too plus other heart issues. It's difficult to know whether it's familial but I suspect this is so.
both my parents had it, it’s listed at a cause of death on my mums death certificate, I believe there is a genetic element BUT personal lifestyle choice have some affect on the condition. Dad died of a stroke.
As it is so difficult to isolate one cause (assuming that is the solution) I work on the basis that for the majority the cause is a combination of different factors and each factor will vary in degree according to the individual's circumstances.
This means you have to address all factors to get satisfactory QOL and that usually includes a medical intervention.
I discovered doing family tree research it's noted on my maternal grandmother's death certificate, not primary c.o.d, but listed. I suspect my mother also had it, but never said so, she died from heart disease/dementia. Both my brother and I have it, but my older sister doesn't. My sister has never done a minute's exercise in her life, and is a heavy smoker, diet not great etc. My brother had a sedentary job, also a heavy smoker. I was a "late" baby, so grew up in a house with 5 adults, all smokers, 2 of them on unfiltered cigarettes 😳. So I didn't smoke, but sure did plenty of the passive kind. Is that a factor? I was the only one in my family who ever did formal exercise, and ate a better diet. So why me? As Bob says, it's a mongrel condition, I do believe there's a genetic/familial propensity, and combining that with stress is the biggest factor in the AF lottery. I've had very stressful jobs, and by nature a worrier - the world's worst overthinker. I think it causes inflammation in the body, which is the key to all disease.
"I do believe there's a genetic/familial propensity, and combining that with stress is the biggest factor in the AF lottery. I've had very stressful jobs, and by nature a worrier - the world's worst overthinker. "
Yeah, this is me. Plus my life long battle with being overweight and untill 2 months ago a regular weekend alcohol user. So basically I can choose a wide palette of probable causes to my AFib. But I still think it was stress and obesity that rocketed me into AFib.
i am fairly sure that it runs in my family. Initially thought it was just my mum’s side - aunties who had strokes. Then my sisters had strokes, pre-diagnosis and quite young in their early/mid sixties. Though recently I’ve discovered that cousins on my dad’s side have it too.
It proved persistent in my sisters, and mine turned persistent. My brother had just one episode.
I don’t think anyone knows if it affects treatment, type etc., though maybe some day research will allow us to know a lot more. Hopefully leading to more individualised treatment.
I would say that the advice in the other replies is spot-on. Those lifestyle factors may help prevent/stop the AFib, or it might be the tenacious type. Yet they will still improve your health even if you do stay in AFib. (Which isn’t the end of the world, if your heart rate is controlled.)
These days you have the benefit of being able to wear a device such as a watch or fitness tracker, which will alert you to any arrhythmia. One thing they do know is that treatments to keep you in normal rhythm work better before AFib progresses.
Hi! My husband and his brother have had afib ever since they can remember, I think their father too. They just accepted it as it came when children and never saw a doctor until I dragged him there. He refused to take meds. When he gets bouts now he takes liquid hawthorne from a local medical herbalist and it passes off. I use it too.
It's an interesting question and an excellant one to raise . I don't think in my case it is inherited.....(given no one else in my family either side appears to have had it) . however it's a known consequence of cancer treatment as is HF. Given 1in2 now develop cancer (and there's been no real concrete body of evidence explaining the ever increasing incidence rate that that I'm aware of) then it seems Afib is destined to visit a fair few of us. I know this isn't the same as genetics but I do think it's a great example of how our environment can affect us....ie toxicities we are exposed to that stress the body.I think genetics versus environment is still in its early days. So unless you know for sure that your family carries the specific gene/s such as the Bracka gene in BC then you really can't be sure it's a very strong factor even if there appears to be a link but it might be a component if that makes sense.
It would be great if this could be unravelled properly..... In the fullness of time it may well be. However as with all science be wary of the one off research and be aware that most research is carried out because it's backed by big pharma or medical industry that can ultimately profit from new and expensive treatment. Healthy cynicism all the way!!
I have paroxysmal af, my brother has the same, my mum has persistent AF (she is 95) and my father had it too. I definitely think it can be genetic
I believe it is inherited. I have it and both my father and mother had it, although both lived to a good age. I know cardiologists who believe AF is inherited and it has a high prevalence in certain dog breeds, definitely inherited in one with three genes identified (I’m a vet.) Obesity and other “lifestyle factors” are probably involved in most diseases that we get as humans but there are genetic predispositions to everything.
My mother my sister my neice and potentially another sister [undiagnosed] have af and we all lead totally different lifestyles, so hard to put a definitive answer to your question Newone.
Hi! I have some experience with this, which may or may not be helpful.
I have inherited a heart condition from my mum (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) and have been told this is the reason why I have AFib.
The only way that it’s affected my treatment so far, is that Bristol hospital refused to give me an ablation (they said that their success rate was only 16% because of my HCM) but St Barts in London said yes to me and that was done in October.
All the best to you!😊
From all the interest and replies so far it seems very likely that it does run in families. In my case both of my siblings experience afib though the symptoms were very different. Sister, three years older, experienced scary episodes of unpredictable syncope. Ablation was unsuccessful and was eventually fitted with a pacemaker. Brother, nine years older, did not suffer from syncope but was fitted with a pacemaker after a period of stability post ablation.I am following the family tradition but after eighteen months of paroxysmal afib, a switch flipped and afib is now persistent though with minimal effect on my daily life except for some breathlessness on exertion which is largely due to the low dose beta blocker I have been prescribed.
Parents sadly unable to cast any light on the theory of familial afib as they died of heart disease before entering the peak afib years.
So that's a long winded way of agreeing with previous contributors. There is almost certainly a family connection but symptoms seem to be very individual.
Nobody in my family has afib. I went into afib after having too much strong alcohol which l wasn't used to. I haven't touched a drop since.
Mam developed AF after a heart attack and had pace and ablate in 2006. I did not know it was AF then she just said she had palpitations. Dont think she was offered a normal ablation but she developed HF after this and died in 2008. Dad has a history of syncope but had a pacemaker in 2015 for low HR and anther collapse. He had low HR for years. He now has some PAF but also has dementia but he is 90.
Interestingly, talking to my cousin in the supermarket as you do, after not seeing him for many years, it turns out he has had permanent AF for 4 years and had 5 ablations. He was due for a 6th but just went back in NSR. Did not get he full story though
All I can say for sure is that my three aunts had AF and in my early consults with cardiac docts, that always came up in the conversation. My grandmother (their mother) died of a stroke so it's possible she had it as well.
I would add that the meds and procedures we have now give us a better prognosis. Perhaps my grandmother would have lived longer. My aunts did.
Perhaps the best answer to some of these questions can be found on the Mayo Clinic website...mayoclinic.org/diseases-con.... In general, it is consistent with the anecdotal responses from members of this forum.
I don't know of any studies that have compared the effectiveness of treatments on patients with no family history vs those with a family history of afib. So anecdotal evidence is probably all there is.
I had my first afib episode about 10 years ago (age 51) after I had climbed to the top of an 11,000 ft mountain in California. I only had a couple of other episodes before I was officially diagnosed about 5 years ago. All of my early episodes were triggered by exertion. As is typical, my episodes increased in frequency and duration over time. In July of 2022, I underwent a cryogenic cardiac ablation. I continued to have arrhymthias (lots of new ones in addition to afib) for 6 months but I was able to go back to work in late August of 2022. I have only had 4 episodes since January of 2023 and each one only lasted 10 minutes.
My mother had afib over most of her adult life but it started when she had rheumatic fever while she was in college and it damaged one of her heart valves. Heart valve damage by itself is also a known cause of afib. At least one of her sisters was diagnosed in her 80s and I have since learned that several of my first cousins on my mother's side have also been diagnosed with afib. When I look at the family history on my mother's side, there are a number that have died in their 80s due to stroke.
In regards to the effectiveness of ablations, I think the key factor is not waiting too long whether you have a family history or not. They seem to be most effective when you still have paroxysmal afib. My mother did not receive one until she had permanent afib and it did not work for her. There is some risk (including possible death) with ablations so it's not something I'd recommend until the afib load becomes a major issue with your quality of life.
Hi NewOne2023,
I am 56 and Male... My AFIB came up out of nowhere... However after checking older model Apple Watch, I had episodes for about a year... But then went for IV DRIP just to replenish and the Nurse said to go to Hospital right away...
So first thing is and I am not pushing apple, but the New Apple Ultra Watch and Oura ring I wear give me peace of mind...
Long story short, I had Cardioversion about 2 weeks after that initial visit to ER... Then Blood Pressure one day started dropping like the Titanic... Down to 32 when I hit the ER doors... 2 days later had Pacemaker Implanted...
Fast forward a year later to October 23 and AFIB came back with a Vengeance and YoYo Blood Pressure... So had Heart Ablation Mid October 23...
I have had some challenges with Medication side effects from Sotalol and just moved back to bisoprolol...
So my advice is "Do Not Panic"... Some people have AFIB much of their lives and never know... Others like me needed some adjustments...
I feel like I now have Protection with my Pacemaker and these procedures... At first it was a lot to digest, but feeling Good and can live a normal life...
I think every case is different, but please keep your head up and tell your Mom I send my prayers... She will be great!
Have a Merry Christmas and Stay Positive!
Cheers!!!
Johnny
Mother had it, no risk factors. Sister has it and I have it. All three have thyroid issues, mine started when too high, my mom when too low.
It is detected much more these days but after reading this, I wonder how many people may have had it in the past and never knew or never bothered to have it checked. People from my parents generation just got on with things. Mother had a stroke. Grandmother and uncle as well. Mother didn't know of Afib until she had the stroke and was in hospital. A friend only diagnose two years ago was told he was probably in constant Afib most of his life. He was a runner and cyclist and didn't even know his heart was out of rhythm. Must be more common than the numbers suggest.
It could very well be genetically influenced. My Mum and Nanna both had it. However,my main take is this,that medical advances in detection and treatment including lifestyle changes mean I have had far better care than they did.
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